They returned to Chen’s warehouse around noon.
Six people. One blue crystal shard each. Elena hadn’t stopped smiling since sunrise.
“You look strange when you’re happy,” Marcus told her.
Elena laughed. “I forgot what being happy feels like.”
Chen didn’t laugh. She stood beside the map on the wall. Three new red dots had appeared overnight.
“The company knows we took Elena,” she said. “They’re activating every fragment they still control and turning them into weapons.”
“Weapons?” Pip asked.
“They’re putting fragments into recruits. Soldiers who don’t feel pain. Don’t sleep. Don’t question orders.”
Julian studied the map.
“How many?”
“Twelve so far. Every one of them is dangerous.”
...
The First Strike
The warehouse windows shattered.
Glass sprayed across the room.
Dara grabbe
